Cultures of Honor

SELF Project Line 1

Project Line 1 starts off from the basic proposition that many migrants currently coming to Europe in general, and Germany in particular originate from so-called honor cultures. As compared to the more independent concept of dignity, honor is essentially interdependent in two ways. First, it refers to whole collectives (i.e., the family) rather than to single individuals alone. Second, it is a reflection of the worth of a person in the eyes of others, thus existing in interdependence with them only. While previous research has identified the central components of honor codes and their psychological consequences, little is known about their role in the process of acculturation (from honor to dignity cultures).

Download the long description of project line 1, including potential research questions on cultures of honor.

Supervisors in Project Line 1: Cultures of Honor

Dr. Mandy Boehnke
Universität Bremen
Vice President for International Affairs, Academic Qualification, and Diversity (UB)
Tel.: +49 421 218 66430

Research Interests

  • Social Inequality
  • Families in the Context of Migration
  • Intergenerational Transmission of Value and Transitions

Prof. Dr. Klaus Boehnke
Constructor University
Methods Center Chair (BIGSSS)
Tel.: +49 421 200 3401

Research Interests

  • Political Socialization (Xenophobia, Right-wing extremism)
  • Value Change and Value Transmission
  • Social Cohesion


Methods Expertise

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Latent Growth Modeling
  • Nonparametric Statistics
  • Structural Equation Modeling

Prof. Sonja Drobnič, Ph.D.
Universität Bremen, Socium
Tel.: +49 421 218 66360

Research Interests

  • Quality of Life, Quality of Work, Work-Life Balance
  • Family, Household, Gender
  • Social Capital and Social Cohesion
  • Life Course Research


Methods Expertise

  • Event History (Survival) Analysis
  • Questionnaire Construction
  • Research Design and Modeling
  • Survey Design
  • Various Regression Techniques

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kühnen
Constructor University
Academic Chair (BIGSSS), Speaker RTG Self
Tel.: +49 421 200 3426

Research Interests

  • Cultural Differences in the Meaning of Choice
  • Learning and Teaching in Multicultural Settings
  • Foundations of Morality and Religious Beliefs